Category Archives: Bold Strokes Books

September 4, 2016 · 11:55 pm

Review: Roadside Assistance by Marie Harte

Title: Roadside Assistance by Marie Harte
Body Shop Bad Boys Series Book Two
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 384 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Underneath the axle grease and tats
He’s a gentleman

Foley Sanders figured he’ll always be content with a life of cars and casual hookups. Until a run-in with Cyn, a statuesque firecracker with a hate-on for men, leaves him bewitched and intrigued-much to her annoyance.

Maybe Cynthia Nichols was a little hard on Foley, that muscular, tattooed, super-hot mechanic next door. But she’s tired of feeling defensive about her size and has sworn off men. She’s got a new job, new life, perfect plan. Foley has trouble written all over him-no way is she going to fall for his charms.

Foley might look like a bad idea, but underneath, he’s all gentleman. Too bad Cyn’s not buying it. What’s a bad boy to do when the goddess of his dreams won’t give him the time of day?

Review:

Roadside Assistance is a scorching hot addition to  Marie Harte’s marvelous Body Shop Bad Boys series.  In this outing, tattooed bad boy mechanic Foley Sanders meets the woman of his dreams, Cynthia “Cyn” Nichols, when she storms into Webster’s Garage and lets him know in no uncertain terms that she is VERY unhappy about a parking issue.

Although he has a bit of a checkered past, Foley has not been in any type of trouble for years. He loves working at Webster’s Garage and he considers his boss and co-workers family. He is devoted to his mom, Eileen, and while he is a little over-protective of her, he wants her to be happy. Foley lives with his oldest and dearest friend, Sam Hamilton, whose troubling past is not as far behind him as the two men would like.  Foley is straight-shooter with few social graces but he is refreshingly honest and refuses to play games. After the fiery first encounter with Cyn, Foley is smitten but she is not exactly in the market for a new relationship.

With a string of failed romances behind her, Cyn has sworn off men but she cannot help notice that Foley is incredibly hot. Despite her unexpected attraction, she has no intention of spending time with a man who could have any woman who crosses his path. She is a very astute and successful businesswoman and she is very independent. After years of degrading comments from her mother, Cyn is struggling with a slew of self-images issues due to her above average height and shapely curves.  Despite her reservations about becoming involved with Foley, she does finally agree to dating him as long as they keep things between them casual.

Cyn and Foley’s relationship starts off with a bang as they quickly give in to their blazing hot desire. While there are always self-doubts at the back of her mind, Cyn’s does not allow them to dissuade her from fully participating in their sizzling encounters. Cyn’s self-confidence is fragile and because of her low self-esteem, she is always waiting for Foley to dump her when the “perfect” woman crosses his path. Foley sometimes has difficulty expressing himself and she misconstrues some of his comments due to her sensitivity about her size. Interference from outside sources and Cyn’s unresolved issues threaten to derail their burgeoning romance and Foley finally runs out of patience with her inability to trust him.  Will Cyn allow her emotional baggage and insecurities to ruin their chance at happiness?

Roadside Assistance is another fun, flirty and incendiary installment in the Body Shop Bad Boys series. The novel is entertaining with a realistic storyline that provides a positive message about body image. Although insta-lust quickly turns to insta-love, the romance between Cyn and Foley is believable. Old and new fans of Marie Harte are going to love this delightfully sexy and witty love story between a rough and tumble mechanic and the curvaceous businesswoman who steals his heart.

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Filed under Bold Strokes Books, Contemporary, Marie Harte, Rated B, Review, Roadside Assistance, Romance, Sourcebooks Casablanca

December 17, 2012 · 3:57 am

Review: The Storm by Shelley Thrasher

Title: The Storm by Shelley Thrasher
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Genre: Historical, F/F, Romance
Length: 264 pages
Book Rating: C+

Review Copy Obtained from Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Jacqueline “Jaq” Bergeron—New Orleanian, suffragist, freethinker—drove an ambulance on the battlefields of Europe during the Great War. She returns home and finds herself isolated in rural East Texas, keeping house for her war-hero husband as she awaits his promised divorce and plans her escape. But then she meets Molly.

Molly Russell lives for her music, which sustains her as she cares for her son and husband, and suffers her mother-in-law. When she meets Jaq, a world she never imagined opens to her—a world entirely out of reach.

With the storm of war still raging in Europe and other battles to be fought at home, can two women bound by the land and family ties find the freedom to love and build a life together?

The Review:

Set in the latter years of World War I, Shelley Thrasher’s The Storm is rich in historical details as two unlikely women find love in rural Texas.

Jaq realizes her marriage is a mistake right from the beginning and she and her husband, Eric go their separate ways until he is injured in the war. Following his mother’s death, Eric and Jaq temporarily move to his family’s farm and arrange for household help for his father. Upon her arrival, Jaq meets Molly who lives on a nearby farm with her husband, James, young son, Patrick and her mother-in-law. They form a close friendship and soon both women are fighting their mutual attraction for one another.

Both Jaq and Molly are well-developed and three-dimensional characters. Of the two women, Jaq is the more vibrant and outspoken. She has traveled extensively and her experiences as an ambulance driver in Europe continue to haunt her. Jaq fully accepts and explores her sexuality and she is upfront with Molly about her growing feelings.

Molly is not exactly happy with her life, but she tries to make the best of it. While she cares for her much older husband, James, she does not love him or feel much passion for him. Her mother-in-law is a termagant and nothing Molly does can satisfy her. Molly is devoted to her son Patrick and she is happiest when she is playing the piano and composing new songs. The closer she gets to Jaq, the more dissatisfied Molly becomes with her life.

Husbands James and Eric play very minor roles and remain on the periphery of the story. We see more of Eric as he struggles to recover from his war injuries and an addiction to alcohol. James is a rather weak character who is a good father but a terrible husband. He is a mama’s boy who refuses to defend Molly against his mother’s constant criticism.

Molly’s mother-in-law is absolutely horrible. Opinionated and disappointed in James’s decision to marry Molly, she is hypercritical of everything Molly does. There are a few times when we see her in a more favorable light, but unfortunately, those moments are short lived. Late in the story, she manipulates certain events to achieve her own goals.

The relationship between Molly and Jaq begins as friendship and is very slow growing. As Jaq shares more and more of her life abroad and experiences with the suffrage movement, Molly becomes more aware of the world outside the life she has made for herself. She discovers the self-confidence to stand up for herself and she becomes involved with local politics despite her mother-in-law’s disapproval.

While I enjoyed The Storm for the most part, the story was slow moving and a little disjointed. Jaq’s past was revealed little by little and some of it seemed out of sequence so it was a little difficult to follow. Jaq and Molly are likable characters, and their emotions for one another are believable, but their romance is very drawn out and we never really them together except as friends.

The Storm is very well researched and Shelley Thrasher does a excellent job weaving together fact and fiction. The references to historical events such as the Galveston hurricane, the Spanish Flu epidemic and the suffrage movement add depth and interest to the overall storyline.

Overall an entertaining and enlightening read that fans of historical romances will enjoy.

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Filed under Bold Strokes Books, F/F, Historical, Rated C+, Review, Romance, Shelley Thrasher, The Storm

July 10, 2012 · 3:58 am

Fontana by Joshua Martino

Title: Fontana by Joshua Martino
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Genre: Contemporary, Fiction
Length: 224 pages
Book Rating: B+

Review Copy Obtained from Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Handsome and charmingly shy, Ricky Fontana may be the greatest ballplayer who ever lived. Hitting a baseball has always come easy for the New York Mets outfielder—his true challenge comes when skyrocketing fame threatens to reveal his deepest secret: Ricky Fontana is gay.

Jeremy Rusch—a tabloid sportswriter hardened by drink and disappointment—follows Ricky Fontana as the young champ aims to break one of baseball’s most treasured records: the 56-game hitting streak that immortalized Joe DiMaggio in 1941. As a rapt nation watches Fontana lash hit after hit, creeping toward DiMaggio’s impossible number, the idol of the sports pages becomes an American hero. From the White House to Hollywood, everyone wants to shake hands with Ricky Fontana. And it doesn’t take long for his carefully guarded secret to come to light—thanks to a front-page exposé by Jeremy Rusch.

When he discovers Ricky’s secret, Rusch envisions recognition to rival that of his idol. The reporter’s obsession creates a national furor, turning one baseball summer into a season that nobody can ignore.

The Review:

Fontana by Joshua Martino is an utterly captivating yet heartbreaking novel about an extraordinary baseball player whose promising career is cut short when he is thrust out of the closet and into the limelight.

Ricky Fontana is the rising star of baseball. His rookie season was nothing short of amazing and expectations for his second season are so high they are practically unobtainable. Could this young ballplayer from Rhode Island break the two long standing records held by baseball greats Ted Williams and joltin’ Joe DiMaggio? Revered by dignitaries and idolized by adoring baseball fans, all eyes in America are firmly focused on Ricky Fontana as he breaks one record and is well on his way to breaking the other.

Jeremy Rusch is an alcoholic sportswriter who is on a downward spiral. He is on the downside of his career when an interview with rookie Ricky Fontana rejuvenates his flailing career. Expecting the same easygoing interviewee from his rookie season, Jeremy is bemused by Ricky’s evasive and almost fearful responses to his questions when training camp begins. As the season progresses, Jeremy’s suspicions are aroused as Ricky continues to evade reporters. With his career in jeopardy and his personal life in shambles, Jeremy stumbles onto Ricky’s secret. In a drunken moment, Jeremy Rusch rationalizes his decision to write a salacious exposé about a man he admires for his own personal gain.

What Jeremy could not and does not anticipate is the incredible backlash and controversy his article will unleash. Homophobia from fans, teammates, fellow ballplayers and even umpires rears its ugly head on and off the ball field. Ricky becomes the center of a heated debate about whether homosexual athletes should be allowed to play in professional sports. Religious leaders and political candidates quickly use Ricky’s sexuality as a platform to push their personal and political agendas.

To his credit, Jeremy is remorseful for his role in Ricky’s downfall and he does attempt damage control. His efforts are commendable but they do not mitigate his fateful decision. Ironically enough, just as he is unwittingly destroying Ricky’s life and career, Jeremy’s professional and personal lives undergo a startling transformation.

Fontana is a beautifully written and moving story that accentuates our fascination with the private lives of public figures. It is easy to forget that stars are often just doing what they love. They do not set out to become role models; it is a role often thrust upon them by an adoring public.

There are many valuable lessons to be learned from this extraordinary novel, and I commend Joshua Martino for bringing them to our attention. This thought-provoking novel should be on everyone’s must read list.

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Filed under Bold Strokes Books, Contemporary, Fiction, Fontana, Joshua Martino

July 5, 2012 · 3:56 am

The Marrying Kind by Ken O’Neill

Title: The Marrying Kind by Ken O’Neill
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Genre: M/M, Contemporary, Romance
Length: 264 pages
Book Rating: B+

Review Copy Obtained from Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Wedding planner Adam More has an epiphany: He has devoted all his life’s energy to creating events that he and his partner Steven are forbidden by federal law for having for themselves. So Adam decides to make a change. Organizing a boycott of the wedding industry, Steven and Adam call on gay organists, hairdressers, cater-waiters, priests, and hairdressers everywhere to get out of the business and to stop going to weddings, too. In this screwball, romantic comedy both the movement they’ve begun and their relationship are put in jeopardy when Steven’s brother proposes to Adam’s sister and they must decide whether they’re attending or sending regrets.

The Review:

A serious topic delivered with plenty of humor, Ken O’Neill’s debut novel The Marrying Kind is a thought-provoking novel that is poignant, funny and quite touching. While not a romance in the traditional sense, there are romantic elements. It is definitely a novel about love. The love shared between two people. Unconditional family love.

Like most people, Steven Worth has some unresolved issues from his past. He is an endearing character whose self-deprecating humor is laugh out loud funny. Steven’s love for Adam is palpable and leaps off the pages. He has a good relationship with his exasperating yet loving mother and he is quite close to his brother Peter.

Adam More is a quiet, hardworking man. His marriage planning business is thriving and he, too, is close to his family. All is well between this committed couple until a few casual comments spark a growing discontent in Adam over their inability to legally wed. Following an offhand remark by Steven, Adam decides to quit planning weddings. It is his decision to boycott ALL weddings, including his sister Amanda’s, that begins to tear apart his relationship with Steven.

It was quite eye opening to see how much of an impact Adam’s decision has on so many lives. With their personal and professional lives overlapping, the effects are immediately apparent. While not obvious at first, Steven slowly realizes that he does not necessarily agree with Adam’s decisions. While he sees Adam’s point of view, he is very torn by his loyalty to his brother. He is also very sympathetic to the innocent victims who are unintentionally caught up in the consequences of the boycott.

The Marrying Kind is an engaging novel that will touch your heart. The characters are delightfully quirky and very true to life. The plot is compelling and highlights one of the most relevant and hotly debated topics today. Never preachy, Ken O’Neill makes what many people consider a political issue personal. He puts a face to those whose lives are affected by the inability to legally marry. The injustices are many yet seldom seen by the average person.

Funny and heartwarming, The Marrying Kind is a book that everyone should read.

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Filed under Bold Strokes Books, Contemporary, Ken O'Neill, M/M, Rated B+, The Marrying Kind